Name:	tiaareal_AdministrativeCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the total of the costs related to real estate revenues, including management, leasing, development services and real estate taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_CostOfRealEstateRevenueIncludingRealEstateTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Distribution charges relate to services and expenses associated with distributing annuity contracts.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_DistributionCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_ExpensesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate amount of earnings distributed through Joint Venture and Limited Partnership distributions.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_IncomeFromRealEstateJointVenturesAndLimitedPartnerships
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Charges related to investment advisory, investment management and portfolio accounting.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_InvestmentAdvisoryCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Income net of fund expenses derived from investments in Real Estate properties, Real Estate Joint Ventures and Limited Partnerships and Real Estate related marketable securities, and other debt and equity securities.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_InvestmentIncomeNetOfFundExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Charges related to TIAA's liquidity guarantee.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_LiquidityGuaranteeCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Charges for TIAA bearing certain mortality and expense risks.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_MortalityAndExpenseRiskCharges
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_NetChangeInUnrealizedAppreciationDepreciationOnAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_NetRealizedGainLossOnInvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The aggregate revenue from real estate revenues during the reporting period net of real estate operating expenses and taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealEstateIncomeNet
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealEstateIncomeNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the total of the costs related to real estate revenues, including management, leasing, and development services but excluding capitalized interest in inventory that was charged against earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealEstateOperatingExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealEstatePropertyLevelExpensesAndTaxesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The net realized and unrealized gain losses on investments and mortgage loans payable.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealizedAndUnrealizedGainLossesOnInvestmentsAndMortgageLoansPayable
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate realized gain (loss) on real estate investments.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealizedGainLossOnRealEstateInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The net gain or loss resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_RealizedGainLossesRealEstateJointVenturesAndLimitedPartnerships
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate of fund expenses that includes Investment advisory charges, Administrative and distribution charges, Mortality and expense risk charges and Liquidity guarantee charges.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_TotalFundExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Income derived from investments in Real Estate properties, Real Estate Joint Venture and Limited Partnerships and Real Estate related marketable securities, and other debt and equity securities.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_TotalInvestmentIncomeRealEstateAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Unrealized Gain Losses On Investments And Mortgage Loans Payable

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_UnrealizedGainLossesOnInvestmentsAndMortgageLoansPayable
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The increase (decrease) in the value of unsold mortgage loans payable whose gains (losses) were included in earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_UnrealizedGainLossesOnMortgageLoansPayable
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The increase (decrease) in the value of unsold real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships whose gains (losses) were included in earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_UnrealizedGainLossesOnRealEstateJointVenturesAndLimitedPartnership
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The increase (decrease) in the value of unsold real estate properties whose gains (losses) were included in earnings.

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_UnrealizedGainLossesOnRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Unrealized Gain Losses on Loans Receivable

No definition available.

Name:	tiaareal_UnrealizedGainLossesonLoansReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	tiaareal_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The net gain (loss) resulting from sales and other disposals of real estate owned for investment purposes.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of dividend income on nonoperating securities.

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Amount before accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income on nonoperating securities.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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This item represents the total realized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The aggregate net change in the difference between the fair value and the carrying value, or in the comparative fair values, of marketable securities categorized as trading held at each balance sheet date, that was included in earnings for the period, which may have arisen from (a) securities classified as trading, (b) the unrealized holding gain (loss) on held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category, and (c) the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) on available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831255

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

A tax based on the assessed value of real estate by the local government. The tax is usually based on the value of property (including the land).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 3
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